Nisha Onta attended the South Asia Social Investment Summit which brought together 230 stakeholders from 10 countries on 19-20 January in Mumbai, India. To discuss topics such as climate action, primary healthcare, gender equality, safe WASH, innovative finance, and STEM education. The summit aimed to attract private capital for restoring water bodies in India, developing women entrepreneurship, and financing climate action.
The summit was timely due to India’s G20 presidency and its efforts to achieve the SDGs. One of India’s G20 Priorities is Women-Led Development where India hopes to use the G20 forum to highlight inclusive growth and development, with women empowerment and representation being at the core of India’s G20 deliberations. This includes a focus on bringing women to the fore, and in leading positions, in order to boost socio-economic development and achievement of SDGs.
The other priorities are:
- Green Development, Climate Finance & Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)
- Accelerated, Inclusive & Resilient Growth.
- Accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Technological Transformation & Digital Public Infrastructure.
- Multilateral Institutions for the 21st
In the two-day workshop, there were lots of exchanges on how AVPN partners in India and South Asia are focusing their work on climate and women’s empowerment issues. There was lot of interest from Climate project developers to apply the W+ Standard. We see a lot of potentials to leverage our membership in AVPN to collaborate with climate projects and women’s empowerment projects in India and South Asia.
AVPN also shared the news of the launch of 25 million USD pool funds for gender equality and they are planning to officially launch and call for proposals in February. We are excited to know these new funds for gender equality are being created in the region and we are looking forward to engaging with AVPN in these new ventures as well.